Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cizhou Kiln Productions

Octagonal porcelain pillow

Song Dynasty
Height: 12cm
Length of the pillow top: 32cm, width: 23cm
Length of the bottom: 31cm, width: 21.5cm
Octagonal, both the top and the bottom having a rim, eight bamboo-node-shaped arrises at the pillar wall, a blowhole at the pillow back, unadorned background without glaze. On the pillow top a plucked peony flower is painted with black pigment against the white background, and the vein of the petal and leaves is also painted. Frames in black pigment are delineated at the border of the pillow top.
The pillow adorned with bamboo nodes was typical of porcelain produced in Cizhou Kiln in the Song Dynasty. The painting on the top is delicate and lifelike; the pillow is a high-grade product of the Cizhou Kiln.

Porcelain pillow with children playing pattern

Song Dynasty
Height: 10.4cm
Length: 29.9cm
Width: 22.5cm
The pillow is in round waist shape, the top being lower in the front and higher at the back. White glazed, the top and side are decorated with kids playing pattern in black pigment. The border of the pillow top is sketched with ruyi-shaped pattern and double raised lines, between which four groups of curled branch patterns are decorated. The side is adorned with simple flower and grass pattern. The theme pattern on the pillow is precisely sketched, delineating two kids playing together. A bird is perching on the head of one kid, who is surprised; the other kid seems quite exciting, and is about to catch the bird.
Though just a few sketches, the picture on the pillow is vivid and lifelike.

Porcelain pillow with bamboo pattern

Song Dynasty
Height: 10.5cm
Length: 28.3cm
Width: 19.8cm
The pillow is long polygonal shaped, with eight sides, and both the top and the bottom have a rim. Both the top and the eight side walls are adorned with black patterns against the white background: the top a grove of bamboos, and the side walls curly grass pattern.
Outline drawing is applied to the pattern on the pillow. The strokes are natural and smooth which vividly presents the straightness and flexibility of the bamboo grove, giving off the effect of traditional Chinese ink paintings. The bottom of the pillow is inscribed with the mark "zhang jia zao" (presumably the maker surnamed Zhang).